Graduation rate increases for Nicholls student-athletes

Published: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 10:14 a.m.

Statistics show that Nicholls State student-athletes are continuing to make strides in the classroom and are graduating college at an all-time high for the school.

The recently released Graduation Success Rate report shows that 68 percent of Nicholls student-athletes who began college in 2005 have earned degrees within six years.

The graduation rate is an all-time high for Nicholls, and is a two-point increase from last year, according to school officials.

Nicholls athletics director Rob Bernardi said the GSR rate proves the commitment that the athletic department has to helping its student-athletes graduate.

"Our goal is to make sure that the student-athletes come here, and they have a really good athletic experience, but they also have a good academic experience, and that they graduate," Bernardi said.

Nicholls has the fourth-highest overall GSR rate in the state, tying Northwestern State and trailing only LSU, Louisiana Tech and McNeese State.

"I am very proud of our continued success in improving the graduation rate of student-athletes," said Nicholls President Stephen Hulbert in a news release. "For Nicholls athletics to rank among the top GSRs in the state — despite the fact that we are one of the lowest-funded athletics programs — is a great accomplishment and speaks volumes about our student athletes, coaches, staff and faculty."

The GSR is designed to measure the proportion of student-athletes who graduate and includes incoming transfer students in its calculations.

Nicholls had the highest GSRs rate among state schools and in the Southland Conference in the sports of men's tennis (100 percent graduating) and softball (90 percent).

Nicholls also ranks first in men's cross country/track (80 percent), third in men's basketball (71 percent) and third in volleyball (86 percent). Several Colonel teams showed increases from their previous year's GSR, which measured the graduation rates of 2004 incoming freshmen. Men's cross country/track improved by 20 percentage points, golf by 15 points, men's basketball by eight points and football by seven points.

Bernardi said the graduation rates jumped largely because the school implemented admissions standards in 2005. He also added that coaches are recruiting more athletes who qualify academically and make sure the ones who struggle get the help they need.

"It says that we're doing the right things," Bernardi said. "While we have struggled sometimes financially or competitively, in the most important area, which is graduating student athletes, we are right there where we should be."

Aside from the GSR rate, Bernardi pointed to the school's Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores this year as further proof of the athletic department's success. The mission of the APR, which is part of an academic reform package established by the NCAA nine years ago, is to improve classroom performance and graduation rates of student-athletes by concentrating on athlete retention and eligibility.

It was the third straight year that all of Nicholls' athletic programs have met APR standards.

"I'm really proud of the progress we've made in terms of the graduation rates and the APR," Bernardi said. "We started out really in a difficult situation several years ago, and we've made up ground quickly. We're at the point with a great graduation rate and APR."

While he is pleased with the high academic rates, Bernardi said the work is not done. He wants the athletic program to continue making improvements to get higher rates in the upcoming years.

"We are trying the best we can to get the highest graduation rate as possible, and that's a 100 percent," Bernardi said. "That is our goal. We're closing in on it. I'm sure the rates will increases as the years go on."

<p>Statistics show that Nicholls State student-athletes are continuing to make strides in the classroom and are graduating college at an all-time high for the school. </p><p>The recently released Graduation Success Rate report shows that 68 percent of Nicholls student-athletes who began college in 2005 have earned degrees within six years. </p><p>The graduation rate is an all-time high for Nicholls, and is a two-point increase from last year, according to school officials.</p><p>Nicholls athletics director Rob Bernardi said the GSR rate proves the commitment that the athletic department has to helping its student-athletes graduate.</p><p>"Our goal is to make sure that the student-athletes come here, and they have a really good athletic experience, but they also have a good academic experience, and that they graduate," Bernardi said.</p><p>Nicholls has the fourth-highest overall GSR rate in the state, tying Northwestern State and trailing only LSU, Louisiana Tech and McNeese State. </p><p>"I am very proud of our continued success in improving the graduation rate of student-athletes," said Nicholls President Stephen Hulbert in a news release. "For Nicholls athletics to rank among the top GSRs in the state — despite the fact that we are one of the lowest-funded athletics programs — is a great accomplishment and speaks volumes about our student athletes, coaches, staff and faculty."</p><p>The GSR is designed to measure the proportion of student-athletes who graduate and includes incoming transfer students in its calculations.</p><p>Nicholls had the highest GSRs rate among state schools and in the Southland Conference in the sports of men's tennis (100 percent graduating) and softball (90 percent). </p><p>Nicholls also ranks first in men's cross country/track (80 percent), third in men's basketball (71 percent) and third in volleyball (86 percent). Several Colonel teams showed increases from their previous year's GSR, which measured the graduation rates of 2004 incoming freshmen. Men's cross country/track improved by 20 percentage points, golf by 15 points, men's basketball by eight points and football by seven points.</p><p>Bernardi said the graduation rates jumped largely because the school implemented admissions standards in 2005. He also added that coaches are recruiting more athletes who qualify academically and make sure the ones who struggle get the help they need. </p><p>"It says that we're doing the right things," Bernardi said. "While we have struggled sometimes financially or competitively, in the most important area, which is graduating student athletes, we are right there where we should be."</p><p>Aside from the GSR rate, Bernardi pointed to the school's Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores this year as further proof of the athletic department's success. The mission of the APR, which is part of an academic reform package established by the NCAA nine years ago, is to improve classroom performance and graduation rates of student-athletes by concentrating on athlete retention and eligibility.</p><p>The APR showed Nicholls' 14 sports programs performed above the academic standard during the 2010-11 school year. Nicholls had three teams with perfect scores of 1,000 — men's golf, men's tennis and women's cross country. Every Nicholls athletic program scored above 930, with 11 programs scoring above 950.</p><p>It was the third straight year that all of Nicholls' athletic programs have met APR standards. </p><p>"I'm really proud of the progress we've made in terms of the graduation rates and the APR," Bernardi said. "We started out really in a difficult situation several years ago, and we've made up ground quickly. We're at the point with a great graduation rate and APR."</p><p>While he is pleased with the high academic rates, Bernardi said the work is not done. He wants the athletic program to continue making improvements to get higher rates in the upcoming years. </p><p>"We are trying the best we can to get the highest graduation rate as possible, and that's a 100 percent," Bernardi said. "That is our goal. We're closing in on it. I'm sure the rates will increases as the years go on."</p>